I get out and walk in the yard. The sun blinds me. My guts warn me that this better not be a prelude to wanders further afield.

The analgesic that comes closest to working is... TV. Also, nibbling on food. While I am actually eating, my head isn't in constant mid-explosion involving billions of bits of sharp glass pounding into the tissues inside my eyes and sinuses and forehead, while fighting queasiness. So although I am far from hungry, I am constantly nibbling. Grain by grain of rice. Picking little bit of celery by little bit of celery out of a potato salad.

Writing? Forget it.

Walking or working out? No way.

Repotting plants? Nope.

Stapling Blue to the table to discuss budget with me? Yeah right.

I type "headache" and "lupus" into Google and discover: Headaches are not associated with lupus. ALSO: Headaches are associated with lupus. ALSO: Intractable migraine-like headaches are characteristic of people with lupus. Or not. Here, take this prednisone. Maybe it won't make you feel worse.

I pull down the shades on the long, warm, hazy solstice day and go back to nibbling on food in front of the TV. Trapped.

When I have horrible sinus infections chewing is the only thing that rids me of the pain and then only while actually chewing-of cource three days on omnicef and the headache goes away and does not come back.